1- Paul had been dealing with the subject of making right judgments in regards to disfellowshipping certain brothers when needed.
He says that the church should judge herself, but not judge the world.
dare- courage, boldness, confidence to do something.
It was inconsistent with the spirit of Christianity.
What made them think that this was O.K.?
Why display disagreements between brothers in front of the unbelievers.
It brings contempt to the faith in the eyes of unbelievers.
They will know you are my disciples by the love you have for one another.
There may be differences of opinion between Christians on certain legal issues. There is no blame on either side. They may both want the issue settled fairly, and seek mediation and wisdom from wise counsel.
This is not necessarily wrong.
It is not a difference of opinion that is spoken of by Paul here.
It is the spirit in which the difference is adhered to.
Many times they were unwilling to have justice done, but rather simply wanted their own way.
…against another… The issues were not simply a matter of judgement needed, but rather of one Christian against another.
Paul questions why Christians would go to law against other Christians and use non-Christians as judges and mediators.
It is not that their judgements might be unjust, but that they couldn’t settles issues amongst themselves.
Christians are entitled to Christian mediation.
But why go before unbelieving judges?
The Jews thought this to be improper, taking disputes before Gentile judges.
The Jews would name this action amongst themselves as being done by an ungodly man.
2- Paul seeks to show that Christians should be competent to judge among themselves.
If they fit to judge great eternal matters, were they not fit to judge temporal earthly matters?
Matthew 19:28 Assuredly, I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
This seems to say that in the millennial reign of Christ, Christians will be part of the judging body upon the earth. That they will be of a position in proximity to Christ, and of such a spiritual agreement with Him, that they will be able to look upon his judgements, explain them, agree with them, and see the wisdom in them.
3- 2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare he angels who sinned, but cast the down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgement…
Angels who sinned held accountable, and will be judged eternally.
Christians will be qualified to even see the justice given to these angels who sinned. They will see the wisdom and righteousness of God, and be able to embrace his decisions.
If this kind of godly wisdom will happen then, and they will be qualified for those kinds of eternal judgments, are not they qualified now for temporal earthly judgements?
4- The church is the place where high morals and righteous regard for human fairness should be found. The gospel message guides, the indwelling spirit teaches, leads, empowers. The mature Christian should be very qualified to make fair judgment.
Why go to the unbeliever, who has only worldly, human derived morals, who is more likely to accept a bribe. They are not accountable to a higher being who imparts his standards. They are only accountable to their unregenerate consciences.
Judgement must go beyond simply human standard.
A higher standard comes from God, and corrects the blind spots we have.
A higher standard is enforced by God, through the indwelt ministry of the H.S., compelling men to walk according to God’s truth, not according to personal favortism, or the opportunity for personal gain.
5- How far a spiritually arrogant church can miss the mark.
We can think we are so right, and be so wrong.
God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
The church at Corinth needed to be humbled and rebuked for their carnality.
Couldn’t they find at least one man to hear these issues and decide?
They had their men and personalities that they were following.
Why hadn’t they approached Appollos, or someone else?
Wasn’t there a man with wisdom among them, in whom they could have some confidence?
Paul alludes that they were puffed up because of the wisdom they thought was among them.
6- They were wrong about this. They should have at least tried to settle in the church. It doesn’t even seem like they tried.
7- Why do you go before the heathens? If you can’t settle within the church, it would be better to suffer the wrong.
2 thoughts here-
a. Christians should never try to settle a dispute. They should just suffer the wrong every time. It is already a moral failure that it should be brought to any kind of arbitration. If things can’t be settled in Christian love, then it should never go any farther.
b. It’s O.K. to settle disputes, but only within the confines of the church. It does much harm to the cause of Christ to try to settle disputes before the heathen judges. if it can’t be settled by the leadership of the church, or by Christian mediators, then it would be better to suffer the wrong.
They should be rather willing to suffer the wrong.
They ought to love the cause of their Master more than their own rights.
It should be of more concern that the name and cause of Jesus Christ is injured, rather than that they were cheated out of money, or that their reputations may have been injured.
Proverbs 20:22 Do not say, “I will repay evil.” Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
Turn to Psalm 37
Paul defended his apostleship in 2Cor. 11:5-
Is it ever right then, for Christians to go to court?
Options-
*Perhaps when the law is not fully understood by a judge in the church, and legal cousel is needed.
*Differences between Christians and non-believers, when the non-believer will not submit to a decision and recommendation by those in the church.
*When a Christian is injured by a non-believer, there is reasonable cause to seek for coverage of damages, or right a wrong done to character, or property, or person.
The laws and the courts are there for all citizens, including Christians.
We should seek to persecute those who injure us in a criminal way, both for our welfare and for the welfare of society.
These things should be sought after not with a love for revenge, or a love for punishment of the wrongdoers, but with a love for God and for the justice and safety of our community.
These things should be pursued with a heart of forgiveness, and a desire for restoration and wholeness for every person involved.
Proverbs 9:8 Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you.
8- Rather than allow the wrong from another brother, they returned the same types of injury. Those who should be best loved, and to whom should be the deepest ties, instead were injured in a deep way.